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The Best Mattress for Back Sleepers
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall Mattress
Helix Dusk -
Best Value Mattress
Nectar Mattress -
Most Comfortable
WinkBed -
Best Luxury Mattress
Saatva Classic -
Best Mattress for Back Pain
Plank Firm Luxe -
Best Mattress for Pressure Relief
Silk & Snow Hybrid
Best Overall Mattress
The Helix Dusk is a hybrid model made with specialized foam that’s more responsive than traditional foam. Our testers describe the mattress as sturdy and supportive while still offering ample cushioning for pressure points along the spine.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Memory foam offers contouring pressure relief
- Individually wrapped coils provide sturdy back support
- Thick foam comfort system helps minimize motion transfer
Cons
- May not be supportive enough for sleepers over 230 pounds
- Sleeps hotter than some other hybrids
- Foam layers may limit movement
Ratings
Our Take
Best Value Mattress
The Nectar Mattress is a quintessential all-foam mattress that offers deep cushioning for the spine and moderate pushback from denser foam layers. The side and back sleepers on our team gave the bed high marks for its well-balanced design.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Thick comfort system delivers above-average pressure relief
- All-foam construction ensures strong motion isolation
- 365-night sleep trial and lifetime limited warranty
Cons
- Limited bounce may impede ease of movement
- Foam design traps more heat than hybrid models
- Perimeter may compress noticeably under body weight
Ratings
Our Take
Most Comfortable
The WinkBed has a Euro-top design that offers excellent cushioning on the surface combined with sturdy support from the coil base. With four firmness options to pick from, the back sleepers on our team all found the bed comfortable regardless of their body type.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Available in four firmness options, including one for sleepers over 250 pounds
- Reinforced edges and enhanced lumbar support
- Hybrid design offers good ease of movement and temperature neutrality
Cons
- Slightly higher sticker price than competing hybrids
- Less pressure relief than similarly built models
- Sensitive sleepers may notice their partner’s movements, particularly on firmer models
Ratings
Our Take
Best Luxury Mattress
The Saatva Classic has a thoughtful dual-coil design that ensures plenty of support for back sleepers. With three firmness options available, you can pick the amount of cushioning that suits you best.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Three firmness levels and two height options
- Enhanced support in the lumbar area helps relieve lower back discomfort
- 365-night sleep trial and complimentary White Glove delivery with old mattress removal
Cons
- Coils produce some motion transfer
- Expensive price-point
- Customer is responsible for return fees
Ratings
Our Take
Best Mattress for Back Pain
The Plank Firm Luxe is a dual-sided mattress that offers a different feel on each surface — both with above-average firmness for a hybrid model. Our testers recommend this model for sleepers who need extra-firm support to help with back pain.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Flippable design with two firmness options
- Supportive layers work particularly well for sleepers over 230 pounds
- Affordable price-point and special sizes available
Cons
- Not for sleepers who need a cushy “hugging” feel
- Too firm for most sleepers under 130 pounds
- Little to no motion isolation
Ratings
Our Take
Best Mattress for Pressure Relief
The quilted cover and double foam layers make the Silk & Snow Hybrid an excellent choice for back sleepers who need cradling to relieve pressure off their spine. The bed was most popular among our back-sleeping testers between 130 and 230 pounds.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Polyfoam lumbar pad and zoned coils help ease pressure buildup
- Foam encasement minimizes sinkage around the edge of the bed
- Competitively priced
Cons
- Limited motion isolation
- Surface can hinder movements and position changes
Ratings
Our Take
Compare Our Top Picks
| Mattress | Mattress Type | Ideal For | Value | Sleep Trial |
| Helix Dusk | Hybrid | Good Value | 100 nights (30-night requirement) | |
| Nectar Mattress | Foam | Side Sleepers | Great Value | 365 nights |
| WinkBed | Innerspring | Side Sleepers | Good Value | 120 nights (30 night requirement) |
| Saatva Classic | Innerspring | Back Sleepers | Fair Value | 365 Nights ($99 Return Fee) |
| Plank Firm Luxe | Hybrid | Heavy Sleepers | Great Value | 120 nights (30-night requirement) |
| Silk & Snow Hybrid | Hybrid | People with Back Pain | Great Value | 365 nights (30-night requirement) |
My rule of thumb for back sleepers is to find a mattress that’s not too soft and not too firm. Unlike other sleep positions, where people tend to need extra cushioning or support, back sleepers often get the most benefit from a nice even mix of both.
Video: How to Pick a Mattress for Back Sleepers
What do back sleepers need from a mattress in order to sleep comfortably? In the video below, our sleep experts get hands-on with mattresses to show you exactly what to look for when shopping for beds for back sleepers.
What Do Back Sleepers Need From Their Mattress?
Back sleepers typically prefer a mattress with a balanced feel. They need enough support to prevent sinkage in the lower back with moderate cushioning to cradle the spine. Back sleepers aren’t prone to pressure buildup that side sleepers often experience in the hips and shoulders, nor do they need the extra firm support required by stomach sleepers.
Spinal Alignment
Sleeping on an unsupportive bed can lead to aches and pains when weight-bearing areas sink in too far and pull the spine into a curved shape. Although back sleeping is beneficial for spinal alignment compared to other sleep positions, it’s not uncommon for back sleepers to experience pressure buildup in the lumbar area. Some mattresses include extra materials in the middle third to help support the lower back and hips.
Firmness
Ideal firmness is largely a matter of personal preference, but your body type and preferred sleeping position also play a role. The right mattress for back sleepers needs to be firm enough to support the spine, but it should also offer a certain amount of contouring to prevent pressure buildup.
Most back sleepers sleep well on a medium firm bed, falling at a 6 on our 10-point scale with 10 being the firmest. Sleepers under 130 pounds put less pressure on the bed and usually prefer a slightly softer mattress, while those over 230 pounds need more support and often prefer a firmer bed.
| Under 130 lbs. | Between 130 and 230 lbs. | More than 230 lbs. |
| Medium Soft (4) or Medium (5) | Medium Firm (6) or Firm (7) | Firm (7) or Firm (8) |
What Else to Consider in a Mattress for Back Sleepers
When choosing a mattress, it’s helpful to understand the pros and cons of different mattress types, as well as the ins and outs of sleep trials and warranties. If you have specific pain points, you should also consider how the mattress can help.
Mattress Type
Mattresses generally fall into several main categories of mattress type: foam, hybrid, latex, airbed, and innerspring. While individual models differ in performance and construction, beds in the same family of mattress type typically share some similar characteristics. Hybrid, foam, and latex mattresses tend to offer the best balance of support and pressure relief for back sleepers.
Hybrid mattresses include a notable comfort system with contouring materials to help relieve painful pressure buildup, combined with a pocketed coil support core to maintain spinal alignment. Foam mattresses often deliver excellent pressure relief and their high-density cores offer sturdy support for most sleepers. Latex mattresses are supportive with moderate contouring and a more responsive feel.
Body Pain
Although back sleeping doesn’t usually lead to pain points at the hips or shoulders, mattresses that are too firm may cause painful pressure buildup in the lower back. You can minimize some of the pressure by slipping a thin pillow under the knees or lower back.
Back sleeping can trigger symptoms for people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Raising the head of the bed can help reduce heartburn symptoms, while switching to side sleeping can open the airway and reduce sleep apnea symptoms. Talk to your doctor for other options to treat these conditions.
Durability
Mattresses can start to sag or develop permanent body indentations as they age, compromising their ability to provide pressure relief and support. When you notice permanent body impressions, noticeably soft foams, or other indications of sagging, it’s time to replace your mattress. You should also consider replacing your mattress if you’re waking up with unexplained aches and pains.
The average expected lifespan of a mattress is between 7 and 10 years, although this can vary depending on the type of mattress and the quality of the materials and construction. While price isn’t always indicative of durability, it may pay off to invest in a better-quality mattress if it means you won’t have to replace it as quickly.
Sleep Trial and Warranty
It’s common for a new mattress to soften over the first few months as you break in the foams. To help you get a feel for the mattress and see if it works for your sleeping style, many companies offer a sleep trial. During a period lasting anywhere between 30 and 365 nights, you can sleep on the bed in your own home and return it for a refund if you don’t like it.
Mattresses also typically come with a warranty, which is a guarantee from the manufacturer against defects in materials or craftsmanship. Warranties don’t cover damage from accidents or regular wear and tear, but they can help protect your investment if you find a defect such as split foams or faulty zippers.
Helpful Mattress Accessories for Back Sleepers
Mattress toppers and pillows can help promote healthy spinal alignment and prevent aches and pains when back sleeping.
- Change the bed’s feel with a mattress topper: A mattress topper is a layer of material that you place on top of your bed. While it won’t entirely replace support in a mattress with excessive sagging, a topper can make the bed feel firmer or softer without the need to immediately invest in a new mattress.
- Use a pillow with a lower loft: A pillow that’s too thick can strain the neck, placing stress on the cervical area. If you’re waking up with upper back and neck pain, try using a thinner pillow.
- Try an ergonomic pillow: A cervical or chiropractic pillow has a wavy design that fills the gap below the neck when lying on your back. This design can help relieve pressure by keeping the head supported.
- Tuck a pillow under your knees: Experts recommend tucking a pillow under the knees or the lower back to relieve lumbar strain when back sleeping. The goal is to encourage the spine to fall into its natural alignment. These additional pillows may be especially helpful when using a firmer mattress that doesn’t offer as much contouring.
Discover More Mattress Solutions
Check out our other mattress buying guides to ensure you find the bed that best meets your specific needs.
More Mattress Options for Back Sleepers
How We Test
Our testing team is made up of people with different body types and sleep position preferences. We put each mattress through a comprehensive set of tests to see how it performs in areas such as temperature regulation, ease of movement, and motion isolation. When testing the best mattresses for back sleepers, we paid special attention to support and pressure relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best mattress for back sleepers ultimately depends on your body type and personal preferences. However, we typically find that a medium firm foam or hybrid mattress performs well for back sleepers, as these beds offer pressure relief and fairly sturdy support. Latex mattresses also offer strong support and a moderate degree of contouring that back sleepers find comfortable.
Back sleepers tend to do best with a medium firm mattress. Mattresses that are too soft may not provide enough spinal support, leading to aches and pains. Conversely, mattresses that are too firm may not offer enough contouring for the spine, which can lead to pressure buildup.
Though the best sleeping position for back pain varies from person to person, most experts agree that side sleeping places the least stress on the spine. Experts recommend adding a pillow between the knees to keep the hips aligned. You can also sleep on your back with a thin pillow below the knees, but you should try to avoid stomach sleeping if you have back pain.
For some people with obstructive sleep apnea, symptoms worsen when lying on the back. If this is the case for you, your doctor may recommend side sleeping as one way of managing your sleep apnea. Back sleeping is less likely to be a significant factor for people with severe obstructive sleep apnea, or those with other risk factors such as increased body weight or age.
Your pillow should be thick enough to support the head and neck while keeping them in a neutral position. A pillow that’s too thin can strain the neck, while a pillow that’s too thick can crank the head upwards and put stress on the neck and upper back. Back sleepers typically do best with a medium-loft pillow, or a chiropractic pillow made to follow the curves of the head and neck.
